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[Tai Kwan Leap]

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As the first fiery kiss of the morning sun blew across the waves to the deck of the Tokunan Royal yacht, a cool breeze playfully skittered across the upper deck where Tai Kwan and TaiChi were balancing on either side of the prow. The father was to the starboard side of the prow balancing on one foot, and the son was to the port side. They both wore only crimson hakamas.

The boy whispers, “When said the moon to the sun and stars?”

“Soon said the wind chasing the mountains,” his father said.

Then they both closed their eyes and let the sun bathe them with it’s warmth as the light slowly climbed their bodies. The myriad of tattoos on Tai’s upper torso seemed to glow as if the sun itself were filling the images with energy.

The tranquility of the morning was interrupted by cursing in gaelic from below decks. Tai and TaiChi sigh in unison, and open their eyes.

“Father, would it not be easier to accept the blessing of the morning sun from the deck,” TaiChi asks.

His father’s simple reply was, “Hai.” Then, he leaped backwards tucking his body into a ball, and then rotating once to land on his feet.

The boy leaned forward slightly, then leaped back as had his father, but instead of tucking himself into a ball he rotated his torso and corkscrewed up into the air. He arced upwards and backwards until the last moment when he did finally flip and land feet first into the main sail, then slid down the cloth top of the mast. There he swung down it, spiraling around one handed, to land softly on the deck. He almost stumbled on his landing, but agilely adjusted by stepping forward.

“Good form. You exposed yourself too long.” Tai said as he stood looking at his son.

TaiChi wrapped his left hand around his right fist and bowed from the waist, “Domo arigatou. I have been practicing with Hugh-san.” He knew, even with that small praise, that he had impressed his father.

Tai deftly uses his foot to toss a pugil stick into the air, and snapped out his right hand without looking, pulling it from the air with no errant motion. The well worn training staff with its padded ends had taught many the skills needed for protection. With his other foot he tossed a second one to TaiChi who also caught it with little or no effort.

“Again, this time armed,” Tai says simply and nods towards the prow.

“Hai,” TaiChi says as he jumps up to the prow.

“Close your eyes and concentrate on feeling the weight and energy of the mountains flowing through you--anchoring you to the ground.” the father says, slowly spinning the pugil from his right hand to his left and back again.

“We are at sea with no ground and no mountains.” the son says turning to face his father.

Tai steps forward spinning the pugil stick in his left hand and strikes out, tapping his son in the forehead and on the chest.

“The mountain and earth can always be seen here and here. No matter where you are they are with you. Now, when you are ready.” Tai says stepping back and closing his eyes.

TaiChi turned around and concentrated. With effort he tuned out the still ceasless cursing in gaelic from below. He also ignored the faint scent of smoke as he closed his eyes. He used his focal point and pictured a great vorcel hawk spiraling around a Tokunan mountain. As he lowered his breathing rate he felt the energy of the mountain pour into him and down through his body. He then was aloft spiraling upwards. His father flicked his wrist and TaiChi’s pugil stick was knocked from his grasp as he was rotating. He found himself skidding across the deck having connected with his father’s backswing. He stood up and bowed to his father.

“You will find you do better armed.” Tai said as he bowed. There on his left shoulder was a large bruise.

“Father, did you let me strike you?” the son asks realizing this was the first time he had.

Tai reaches up and brushes a hand across the bruise and then bows to his son.

“A Samurai never lies. You struck me fairly. Your attack is unconventional, and I sill say leaves you exposed for too long.” the father says.

“But possibly effective, neh?” TaiChi says offering his father the jar of salve he keeps for his sparring matches.

Tai pushes it back to his son and instead kneels in desai position, leaning forward. TaiChi opens the jar and tilts his head back out of range of the fragrance. He knuckles out a ball of the foul smelling salve. As he starts massaging the salve into the bleeding bruise he noticed the blank scroll on his father’s back seemed to be glowing.

He involuntarily stops and stares as a long field of rice paddies appears in it. Then he sees them burst into flame; he sees the villagers homes on fire and the villagers themselves on fire. His hand clamps down on his father’s bruised left shoulder.

“Tell me what you see” Tai says showing no discomfort as his son’s fingers dig into his wounded shoulder.

“Father, there are images on your back” TaiChi says staring in wonder.

“I am the painted monk, it is a curse I bear for an old sensei. I however cannot see what is shown there” the father says bowing his forehead to the deck.

TaiChi’s mind raced. He had heard so many whispered rumors of his father. There were many that said his father was a dangerous man. There were more that said his father was the rightful Emperor of Tokuno. There were also those that said his father was a cold cruel dictator. So many things he had heard.

He blinked twice and told his father of the images of the rice fields and the burnings.

“Padruig-san, after you put your father out and smother the flames in his hair and kilt, I need you to write this down” Tai says to the young man rolling his father in a bit of tapestry and smiting him with a scepter.

“Bloody ‘ell, stay still” Padruig says smiting hard and chuckling.

TaiChi looked back to see the closest thing he had to a brother, Padruig Kinley, who was putting out random fires on his father’s person.

“Droogie-san, I finally hit him” TaiChi smiled proudly.

There was a muffled cursing and then the tapestry burst into blue flames and a very hairy, naked to the kilt, drunken man jumped up. He straightened out his kilt and sips from his shochu bottle.

“Paddy, me lad, if ye hit me wi’ tha’ damned stick, I am goin’ ta’ no be responsible for me actions.” Hugh says.

“Da’ ye were bloody well on fire!” Padruig said discreetly putting the scepter away.

Hugh looked for burns and saw none and then looks at Tai and says, “Och! Hells no. Cover his back afore it is too late. This ne’er turns oot well.”

“Uncle Hugh, there are strange images on papa-san’s back.” TaiChi points to the burning rice fields.

Hugh and Padruig step forward to see the repeated scenes of burning.

“Hugh-san cover my back, I have a not good feeling.” Tai says struggling to rise but unable to with the weight of the images on his back.

Hugh leaned down and grabbed Tai’s right hand just as Tai’s body arced and a low grunt of pain slipped from his friend’s lips. Tai’s hand began to glow, and Hugh felt the awakening of the dragon within. He watched in horror as Tai’s face lifted and he screamed without sound, his right glowing eye flaring.

“This is a red alert! Cover his back now!” Hugh roared as he struggled with the right hand that was now clawing for his throat.

Both boys grabbed a nearby tarp and attempted to cover Tai when a column of fire shot up from the prone samurai’s back setting the tarp ablaze.
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"He's been fired from the Shrimp Boat?" -- Charlaine Harris "Living Dead In Dallas."

[Tai Kwan Leap]

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The morning sun slowly climbed across the sky shedding a healing warmth. It specifically seemed to cast a golden beacon upon the burning back of a man naked to the waist.

“Lads, me mum always said, ‘If ye are willin’ ta’ face tha’ Oblivion, ye have ta’ be willin’ ta’ wrestle tha’ bastich ta’ tha’ ground’” Hugh Kinley said as he strode forward crumbling reagents in his fists.

“I am the Beast that shouted Love at the heart of the World and received only deafening silence in return” the burning man wearing the form of Tai Kwan said as he slowly stood and pointed an open palm towards Hugh.

Waves of green lightning, blue gusts of wind, and red fire shot from his palm striking Hugh square in the chest and knocking him like a rag doll back against the main mast in the center of the ship.

As Hugh stood up patting out fires and healing wounds, he struck his staff on the ground, “Me mum was a damned lunatic, she was.”

Green bands of energy leapt across the deck of the ship, and arced up to the burning man. He struggled and then spun his own staff and the green ribbons broke away. Tai Kwan rolled his shoulders and slammed his staff across the deck sending up purple sparks and a wave of golden energy rippling the deck of the Royal yacht.

Taichi ran towards his father tossing his pugil stick to the side. He somersaulted to land behind his father.

“Papa-san” Taichi says reaching to hug his father about the waist.

Tai Kwan screams as claw marks trace their way up his abdomen. As his son’s arms wrap around him, his right arm thrusts upward the serpent scales glowing amber as they burn across his flesh from the base of the dragon tattoo on his chest down his right arm. There is a brief struggle as the simple samurai seems to fight against the engeries burning through his body, but then his right arm thrusts upwards gouting acrid flames. The eyes on the back of his hand are glowing a steady red. Taichi is surrounded in a coruscating embrace of energy that shifts through the spectrum of the colors.

The Emperor’s eyes grow pale grey, even the spinning right golden orb.

“I am Gaea! The Earth mother. Who has disturbed my slumber” The words fell from the slack jaws of the samurai.

“Bloody, ‘ell, lads. Tis a damed woman. Only tha’ runt would have a female dragon trapped in him” Hugh said as he calmly pushed Padruig behind him.

Tai Kwan screamed in rage and tilted his head back and roared great plumes of sulphurous flame.

“Dinna I tell ye lot. Keep tha’ runts clothes on him” Hugh says as he adjusts his kilt pushing Padruig further back.

Hugh stepped forward as he pushed Padruig back behind the center mast. “’Ello, there love. How can we help ye?”

Tai’s arm slowly lowers and Taichi is suddenly hugging the main mast. Hugh glances back, and nods twice to Padruig who grabs rope and lashes the both of them to the mast. As Tai’s arm becomes level with Hugh’s chest it starts glowing an amber glow. Under Tai’s skin it appears as if clawed feet and wings struggle to be free. A trickle of blood trails from the corner of the small man’s mouth.

A spiraling gout of blood red flame shoots from the palm of Tai’s hand striking Hugh square in the chest tearing his clothing and armor from his body. As his equipment falls to the ground he is wearing only his crimson kilt and his anger.

The voice that issues from Tai Kwan’s mouth is entirely feminine. “Little Hugh, we know of you. You waste your time with these mortals.”

Hugh tosses a glance over his shoulder. The boys are safe tied to the mast.

“Orright. Ye know me given name, but now I know yuirs. Let me friend go or I wi’ have ta’ get rough” Hugh said as the blue pentagram over his right breast sparked with a blue energy so clear it appeared without color. The celtic symbols on the backs of his hands glowed green as dark crimson blood dripped down from the glowing sigils.

“Silly wordsmith, your meager mageries are no consequence to us. Your brief time in this cycle means nothing to us. We have chosen this sturdy vessel to further our needs. You of course will bow to our superior might” Tai’s body curtsied.

Hugh turned to the children.

“Wee bairns, I am just yuir da’ an’ uncle. I dinna ask for much. How e’er, just this once, I need ye ta’ tell me ye believe in me.”

“Da’, I think I can take her. She’s just a wee lass” Padruig said knocking an arrow to his bow.

“Unca’ Hugh. Me da’ is hard to hit” Taichi said looking up from the mast.

A crimson blast of flames streaks out of Tai’s open right palm and knocks Hugh to the floor.

“We wish to speak with you little Hugh” the dead voice echoed from Tai’s lips.

Hugh shrugged his shoulders and staggered up. “Lass if ye do tha’ again wi’ me back turned, I wi’ forget ye are in me friend’s body.”

Taichi squeezed Hugh’s hand so hard he could no longer feel it. “Do not let harm come to my father. I promise you all the resources of Tokuno.”

“Lad, ye gotta trust me on this” Hugh slapped Taichi on the back and he slowly let go of Hugh’s hand.

“Da’, make her know her place” Padruig says as he passes his father a flask.

Hugh reassuringly pats both of the boys and and turns to face her.

“Orright, love, ye know me.. I know ye. We are at a stalemate” Hugh says cinching up his crimson kilt.

“Your impudence is without compare. Feel our wrath” Tai’s hand disgorges gouts of flame only to bounce off Hugh’s upturned left hand.

“Borin’ an’ tiresome, toots. Ye know, lass if ye wanna run wi’ tha’ big dogs ye haveta leave tha’ porch” Hugh takes great steps to ceremoniously light a cigar.

“You are but a moment in our history. Do not think your aberration will save you” blue and crimson beams strike at Hugh as he easily deflects them with his right hand.

“Listen up love. Tha’lad is under me protection. Ye can leave him now, o’ I can make ye do it” Hugh says puffing on his pipe.

Tai Kwan’s left hand explodes in purple energy and he points it at Taichi and Padruig.

Hugh taps his blue pentagram on his chest and then thrusts his right hand outwards. The two boys are encased in a glowing blue energy.

“Okay, ye brazen hussy, tha’ is yuir last chance. Either face only me, or I wi’ remove tha’ chance o’ choice. If ye threaten tha’ Royal family again, I wi’ chase ye through tha’ annals o’ time an’ repeatedly kill ye. This lad is me friend” Hugh says striding forward towards Tai.

The Emperor’s body suddenly falls limp and the flames disappear.

“Hugh, this is what they wanted” Tai screams as he struggles to stand watching the Wordsmith disappear.
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"He's been fired from the Shrimp Boat?" -- Charlaine Harris "Living Dead In Dallas."